Dracaena is an unpretentious houseplant, which even a beginner grower can take care of. An important point is a flower transplant. The normal growth and healthy appearance of the plant depends entirely on which soil is chosen. For dracaena, a special nutritional composition is needed.
Plant description
One of the most popular indoor plants can be safely called dracaena. In appearance, the flower is very similar to a palm tree. However, they do not have kinship. Dracaena belongs to the genus iglitsovye and is represented by a huge number of varieties that differ from each other in the shape and color of the leaves, the height of the trunk. Originally a flower from hot African lands.
An evergreen plant usually has a straight and straight trunk, long and pointed leaves at the ends. The huge demand for dracaena is caused not only by a peculiar appearance, but also by unpretentiousness in leaving. Therefore, they are used in the design of apartments, offices and offices.
The optimum air temperature for a comfortable flower is 15-20 ° C. Ideally, direct sunlight should not fall on it. Some varieties do not tolerate drafts. Particular attention should be paid to planned transplants. Specialists recommend using special primer for dracaena for this purpose. Which one will be better? The plant “loves” the soil, the composition of which is enriched with useful substances for it.
Choosing land for dracaena
The substrate for transplanting a false palm tree should have a slightly acid reaction and a set of certain useful components. Therefore, most gardeners prefer to buy ready-made land suitable for palm trees. Without much effort, you can try to independently make the right primer for dracaenas.
Shop soil mixtures are composed of the following substances:
- vermiculitis;
- middle peat;
- sand;
- vermicompost;
- compost.
Enriched soil allows the plant to obtain the necessary substances for growth and attractive appearance.
What soil does dracaena “like”?
Experienced gardeners can make the soil for transplanting a false palm tree on their own. Most often, a mixture of turf and leafy earth, sand and humus is used for this (in a 1: 1 ratio). Experts also warn that it is extremely undesirable to use clay for growing a “false palm”.
There are disagreements regarding peat as well. Some gardeners claim that this component absorbs moisture very quickly and practically does not give it back. Dracaens "love" wet soil. Therefore, if peat is present in the soil mixture, the plant will have to be watered more often.
Soil for dracaena (the composition of the finished mixture varies depending on the manufacturer) must necessarily have a coarse fiber structure to ensure timely development and normal growth of the plant.
You can find leafy land for planting indoor plants in parks and squares. It is best to collect it under maple and birch trees. For dracaena, it is necessary to take only the topsoil with fallen leaves. The soil is piled up and impregnated with nitrogen fertilizers. After 1-2 years, the soil for dracen will be ready for use.
Soddy ground can be found in meadows where cereals and clover sprout. Small plates of soil need to be laid on top of each other and watered with slurry, water. After 2 years, the turf land will be ready for planting dracaena and other indoor flowers.
Features of dracaena transplant
Usually a flower from the genus iglitzidovy is recommended to be replanted no more than once a year. If the plant was only bought, it must be transplanted from a fragile plastic pot.
What soil is needed for dracaena at the first transplant? In this case, preference should be given to the purchased substrate, which has a slightly acid reaction. It is almost impossible to adjust this indicator when using a soil mixture prepared independently.
Moving plants to the "new home" is better to do in early spring. During this period, dracaena wake up from hibernation and begin to grow actively. The pot should be several centimeters larger in diameter than the previous one. If the pot is too large, the water in it will linger, which will lead to the death of the flower.
Be sure to make drainage from small pebbles, small pebbles, crushed expanded clay or shards. This will prevent the accumulation of water in the lower part of the pot and protect the roots of the plant from the development of putrefactive processes.
What to do with the old land?
When dracaena is removed from the pot, the old substrate does not need to be brushed off. The flower, along with an earthen lump, is transplanted into new soil.
For dracaena it is better to choose stable pots made of clay or ceramic. Mandatory is the presence of perforated holes at the bottom of the tank.
When transplanting dracaena, less than half of the earth is poured into the pot, then the trunk itself is placed in the center and it is poured on the sides of the remaining soil mixture. If the plant has damaged roots, they should be carefully trimmed. After transplanting, the flower must be watered using a small amount of fertilizer. This will help the plant adapt faster.
Care Tips
Many flower growers advise replanting dracaena every 2-3 years. During this time, the flower takes all the nutrients from the soil. It is easy to determine the need to change the place of life of a plant by its state. When the flower ceases to be enough minerals, the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry, and new ones grow very slowly.
When choosing soil for dracaena, you should definitely pay attention to its composition. Mandatory components are substances such as vermicompost, sapropel and middle peat. The first component is the waste product of earthworms. Eliminates pathogens in the earth.
Sapropel is an organic sediment formed at the bottom of water bodies as a result of the decomposition of microorganisms of plant and animal origin. The structure of the middle peat allows you to retain moisture and prevent drying of the root system.
Water the dracaena after transplanting into new soil 2-3 times a week. Leaves must be sprayed with a spray. For speedy restoration, it is recommended to fertilize the flower with such preparations as Zircon and Epin.